Distributor sensor adaptor

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for connecting a sensor used in a contactless ignition system in the distributor of a vehicle including an adaptor plate with breakaway portions for fitting the plate to different types of internal combustion engine distributor housings. The timing sensor is connected to the adaptor plate in a spaced relation to the distributor cam. The adaptor plate in turn is connected to an advance plate within the distributor housing utilizing connecting means originally used to connect the breaker points to the advance plate.

United States Patent Bevacqua [4 1 May 2, 1972 4] DISTRIBUTOR SENSORADAPTOR Primary Examiner.l. R. Scott [7 2] Inventor: Louis A. Bevacqua,Des Plaines, lll. AtomeyMue"er and Aichele [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee:Motorola, Inc., Franklin Park, Ill. Apparatus for connecting a sensorused 111 a contactless igm- [22] Filed: May 17, 1971 tion system in thedistributor of a vehicle including an adaptor plate with breakawayportions for fitting the plate to different [21] Appl. No.. 143,829types of internal combustion engine distributor housings. The timingsensor is connected to the adaptor plate in a spaced 521 US. Cl...2oo/19 R, 123/148 12 relation to the butor cam. The adaptor plate inturn is 51 Int. Cl. ..H0lh 19/00 cmnected an advance the distribuwrmusing 58 Field of Search ..200/19 R 31- 123/148 utilizing cmnectingmeans iginany used the breaker points to the advance plate.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEB A 2M2 a 3,660,623

LOUIS A BEVACQUA BY DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR ADAPTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 2 with a timing sensor secured thereto in accordance with thisinvention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a sensor being adjusted with a gapping ring in placebetween it and the cam.

Electronic'ignition systems have been developed and util- 5 ized ininternal combustion engines. One utilizing a timing DETAILED DE CRIP I3. mhthe g g i g g 9f 6 gi s g gg z gg Referring to FIG. 1 the adaptorapparatus is shown installed p 3 an ugh i a an th in the originaldistributor housing 24. The adaptor plate 10 89?, o z l Zi P? i fl e 10with the timing sensor 12 and associated securing means 14, conversloncome" ona i er pom e c e on 16, 18, 20 is connected to the advance plate22 within the dissystem to timing sensor operation has requiredpermanent h th I hm k th tributor housing 24. anges f f f g? 9:. me 3'39 wot e Breakaway tabs 26, 28 and 30 are shown in FIG. 2 as are g g ig f an f 9 i separation groove 32 between tabs 26 and 28, groove 34 er at z gig o sltuauon dlsm tors between tab 28 and the main body 31 of theadaptor plate 10 m Hem f erem .i the weaker and groove 36 betweenbreakaway tab 30 and the main body pomts 2 m erent i g;

'fi 31. Each of the grooves has been channeled into the plate to meansan t e rotors may even rotate m erem lrecnons' weaken it withoutlimiting its effectiveness as a mounting plate thereby providing aneffective way to remove the tabs as S MM OF THE IN T N required. Theplate is rigid and made of die cast zinc approxi- An object of thisinvention is to provide a simple and gigg gi g i y g f; g gfig gszggeconomical device for converting a plurality of different intern p I any nal combustion engine distributors from breaker oint operaducuve andnonmagnetic p The lettering on the face of the plate (FIG. 3) designatesion to timing sensor operation.

separate holes which are utilized by reference to the following Afurther object of this invention is to provide a method and Chart Wheninstalling the nv 1' i n apparatus- The apapparatus for conversion of amotor vehicle distributor from p p ly lettered holes l'ecelve the Screwsfor mountmg the breaker point operation to timing sensor operationwithout g Sensor Llke parts h n gl n like numbers In the necessity ofundertaking permanent alterations to the disthe g The h p Of the adaptorPlate and holes and tributor. dentations around the periphery as shownin FIG. 2 are selected in order to satisfy the requirements for astandard in one embodiment of the inv n i n the reak p m adaptor platefor a plurality of distributors. It was as a result of condenser andlead wire connected to the breaker points are those Same requirements hh breakaway b were mi]- removed. Two flat head screws are then insertedand secured ized in the development of the standard plate. in designatedrecessed holes in the adaptor plate depending The following chart wasprepared to indicate how the adapupon the type of distributor. N x h p rpl i p itor plate 10 can be mounted in standard brand vehicles whichtioried within the distributor housing with the screw heads a indicatedtherein 35 Vehicle A, B, C and D. It is not meant sandwiched between theadaptor plate and advance plate and t li it the inventi i an manner butis shown only as an secured to the advance plate by the same screws andsame example of how the adaptor plate has been successfully emtappedholes as were used to secure the breaker points to the 40 ployed.

Vehicle Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Break off the sectionAttach sensor mountof adaping screws and nuts to Mount sensor on Installadaptor plate Adjust gap with Install strain tor plate the adaptor plateusing adaptor plate as in into the distributor gapping ring as rclicigrommet Direction of cam listed the two holes and nuts Fig. l or turnedover as using holes listed illustrated in as illustrated in rotationbelow listed belowsoe Fig. 3 listed below belowrcl'or to Fig. 3 figurebclow liguro listed below Vehicle A: 8 031. CCW" 30 Z holes, thin nutsTurned over (No. on 13" holes Fig. 4 Fig. l. bottom). Vehicle B:

6- and 8-cyl. CW 26 Y holes, thin nuts Fig. 1 C holes Fig. 4 Fig. 4. Vhfi-lanl 8-cyl. CCW 30 X holes, thin nuts... Fig. l E holes Fig, 4.

0 IC 0 I 8-cyl. CW 26 Y holes, thick nuts... Fig. 1 D" holes Fig. 4 Fig.4. 8-cyl. CCW 26 Z holes, thick nuts Turned over (No. 60 on D holesbottom). Vehicle 1):

8cy1. CW" 26 Y holes, thick nuts." Fig. 1 D holes Fig. 4 Fig. 4, 8-oyl.CCW 26 "Z holes, thick nuts... Tujriittid ogcr (No. 60 on 'D holesadvance plate with the distributor in breaker point operation. Adesignated gapping ring is fitted over the cam to maintain a spacedrelation between the distributor cam and sensor which is mounted on theflat head screws and secured bydesignated nuts. The gapping ring isthereafter removed and finally a strain relief grommet is insertedthrough the existing lead hole in the distributor housing and secured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view inperspective of the apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of an adaptor plate in accordance with thisinvention;

Referring now to the chart, after the breaker point apparatus has beenremoved from the distributor the next step is to break away appropriatesections so the plate will fit into the distributor housing. Vehicle C,for example, with a clockwise rotating distributor has been converted asshown in FIG. 1. With two pairs of pliers, one clamped on each side ofgroove 32, the plate 26, as prescribed by step 1 of the chart, is bentback and forth until it breaks, separating the section 26 from the restof the plate. The adaptor plate is then the appropriate size forpositioning within the distributor housing 24 (FIG. 1).

In step 2 the flat head mountingscrews l4 and 16 (FIG. 1) are insertedin the recessed holes lettered Y" in the chart (38 and 40 in FIG. I) ofadaptor plate 10. One of the problems in developing standard apparatuswas the axial placement of the FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of theadaptor plate of FIG. 7 timing sensor within the distributor. In the Cvehicle the chart requires the use of thick nuts 42 and 44 to secure themounting screws 14 and 16 to the adaptor plate in comparison to thethin" nuts used in A vehicles. The thick nuts axially set the sensor 12relative to the adaptor plate. Whether the thick or thin nuts are usedto secure the mounting screws, the remaining two nuts secure the sensorto the mounting screws. In one instance nuts designated as thin nuts areon the order of one-eighth inch and thick nuts are on the order ofthree-sixteenth inch. With the flathead screws secured by nuts 42 and 44(FIG. 1), the adaptor plate 10 is then positioned within the distributorhousing 24 so the screw heads are sandwiched between the advance plate22 and adaptor plate 10. The adaptor plate 10 is fitted over point nib48 and secured to the advance plate 22 with screws 50, 51 and 52inserted through the D holes as indicated by step 4, and inserted intotapped holes 54, 55, and 56 in the advance plate. The screws and tappedholes being identical to those originally used in securing the breakerpoints to the advance plate of the distributor.

In one case for B vehicles, the original breaker point securing meansare not used. Instead a longer screw 86 (FIG. 4) is used to secure theadaptor plate in cooperation with a compression ring 88 which fitsaround point post 90.

The sensor 12 is positioned the same for all B vehicles. However, for Avehicles, and C and D eight cylinder vehicles in counterclockwiseoperation adapting the distributor requires turning the sensor over sothe original top 60 is positioned at the bottom.

In mounting, the sensor (FIG. 1) is fitted over the mounting screws 14and 16, and secured with nuts 18 and respectively.

For installation, a uniform distance is maintained between the sensor 12and the cam 58 by a gapping ring such as the ring 70 which is shown inconnection with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. The size of thegapping ring is dependent on the relative size of the cam. In thepresent invention a single gapping ring may be utilized for all themodels listed. The gapping ring of spring steel maintains a uniform gapbetween the cam points 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 and the sensor 12. Slot84 as displayed in FIG. 1 permits limited motion of the sensor 12 foradjustment to maintain engagement with the gapping ring.

To complete the conversion of the distributor, a strain relief grommet92 (FIG. 4) and retaining ring 94 are normally installed to hold thesensor lead 96 in place in the existing lead hole 100 in the distributorhousing (FIG. 4). Enough slack must, however, be allowed in the sensorlead for movement of the advance plate 22. In most automobiles themovement of the advance plate might reach approximately 10 at most.

Special note should be made of the absence of damage to the originalequipment during conversion. In fact, the reconversion to breaker pointoperation may still be accomplished. At no time during the conversion isthere a need to drill new holes, out parts to fit, grind, mill orperform any other step of preparing parts other than breaking offappropriate breakaway tabs. Substitution of parts is minimal. The methodis straightforward and requires no special skill.

What has been disclosed then is a simple, economical method andapparatus for conversion of any selected one of a plurality of internalcombustion engine distributors from breaker point operation to timingsensor operation for a contactless ignition system.

I claim:

1. Adaptor apparatus for converting any selected one of a plurality ofdifferent motor vehicle distributors having timing cam means and anadvance plate from breakenpoint operatron to timing sensor operatlon forelectronic ignition, said adaptor comprising,

an adaptor plate;

a timing sensor;

means for indexing said timing sensor to said adaptor plate;

first connecting means for connecting said sensor to said adaptor plate;

and second connecting means for connecting said adaptor plate to theadvance plate thereby positioning said timing sensor in a spacedrelation to the timing cam means.

2. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said secondconnecting means comprises means originally used for connecting thebreaker points of said distributor to said advance plate.

3. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said adaptor plateincludes breakaway means for adapting said plate to fit a specificdistributor housing.

4. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 1 including said adaptorplate having a plurality of indexing means, and further including meansfor selecting a predetermined indexing means to use for indexing saidtiming sensor to said adaptor plate.

5. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said predeterminedindexing means positions said adaptor plate with respect to the advanceplate.

1. Adaptor apparatus for converting any selected one of a plurality ofdifferent motor vehicle distributors having timing cam means and anadvance plate from breaker point operation to timing sensor operationfor electronic ignition, said adaptor comprising, an adaptor plate; atiming sensor; means for indexing said timing sensor to said adaptorplate; first connecting means for connecting said sensor to said adaptorplate; and second connecting means for connecting said adaptor plate tothe advance plate thereby positioning said timing sensor in a spacedrelation to the timing cam means.
 2. The adaptor apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said second connecting means comprises means originallyused for connecting the breaker points of said distributor to saidadvance plate.
 3. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid adaptor plate includes breakaway means for adapting said plate tofit a specific distributor housing.
 4. The adaptor apparatus accordingto claim 1 including said adaptor plate having a plurality of indexingmeans, and further including means for selecting a predeterminedindexing means to use for indexing said timing sensor to said adaptorplate.
 5. The adaptor apparatus according to claim 4 wherein saidpredetermined indexing means positions said adaptor plate with respectto the advance plate.